The British boxing squad – who face daunting opposition at the Beijing Workers Gymnasium in the days ahead – have been boosted by a good luck message from former colleague Frankie Gavin.

The world lightweight champion from Birmingham, withdrawn from the squad after failing to make the 60kgs limit, telephoned the squad this morning as they were being driven to the official weigh-in.

"Frankie rang our light-heavyweight Tony Jefferies as we sat on the coach to tell him to wish the boys all the best and that he'll be sat in front of the telly cheering them on," said GB head coach Terry Edwards.

"Frankie's an integral part of the squad and I wouldn't have expected anything less from him.

"Of course the news he was going home hit the rest of the lads badly. But now they've had time to reflect on it and the general mood here now is: 'Let's do it for Frankie'." And Edwards, 64, who the previous day had admitted sending Gavin home was "the hardest decision I've ever had to make, was putting a brave face on an exceptionally tough draw for his seven-man squad.

"It's not going to be easy but then we never said it would be," he said. "But if this squad perform to their potential then we'll be coming home with some medals, of that I'm quite certain." So much will rest on the broad shoulders of 6ft 8in team captain David Price who has been endeavouring to lift the squad's spirits following Gavin's shock exit.

Related Articles

The Liverpool super-heavyweight has been drawn against Russia's world No 1 Islam Timurziev who looked hugely impressive at last year's world championships in Chicago before pulling out at the semi-final stage through injury.

"Pricey's on good form at the moment but there's still some tough guys in that group," observed Edwards.

Should Price get past Timurziev his chances of emulating Audley Harrison's gold medal feat in the top weight division at Sydney 2000 will be greatly enhanced.